Republic Day: Security beefed up, traffic diversions announced

New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) A total of 15,000 security personnel, snipers, sniffer dogs and bomb squads have been deployed by Delhi Police to ensure elaborate security and traffic arrangements for the Republic Day Parade Jan 26 and its full dress rehearsal Sunday, officials said. “All security arrangements are in place. More than 150 companies (15,000 personnel) from paramilitary and other state forces will be deployed besides Delhi Police personnel. Another 1,500 traffic policemen will also be on the streets,” Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Satyender Garg said.

A massive ground-to-air security apparatus has been put in place for the parade. Snipers will be deployed at high-rise buildings while around 100 CCTVs will keep a tight vigil on people’s movement between Rajpath and Red Fort, the route of the parade.

Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of National Security Guard will be deployed at various places while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos will keep a close watch along the parade route.

The security has also beefed up at railway stations across the capital. Around 1,300 security personnel have been deputed at New Delhi and Old Delhi railway stations.

“A total of 700 constables and 600 Home Guards, Railways Protection Force personnel, backed up by sniffer dogs and and bomb disposal squads have been deputed. Gadgets like scanners and CCTVs are in place,” Additional Deputy Commissioner (Railways) B.S. Gujjar told IANS.

“The vendors outside the railways stations are thoroughly being briefed about the security measures and have been asked to keep an eye. The parcel and parking lots will be emptied,” he added.

Security personnel, accompanied by bomb squads and sniffer dogs, will be deployed at public places like railway stations, bus stands and important buildings and markets. Vehicles entering the city will also be checked.

Around a hundred sniffer dogs would be on duty, said an official.

In the Lutyens’ zone (central Delhi), which houses government establishments and MPs bungalows, around 2,000 troopers will be on guard. Snipers will also be deployed at key points.

A multi-layer security ring is already put in place at Rajpath, where President Pratibha Patil will unfurl the tricolour and take the salute of marching contingents.

“Special emphasis is being laid on anti-sabotage checks, access control measures and intelligence coordination. The entire route of the parade will be covered by special security and anti-terror arrangements,” said another police official who is part of security arrangements.

The border areas will also witness tight security arrangements. Top police officials from the National Capital Region (NCR) three days ago reviewed the security arrangements and coordination between the security forces.

The meeting was attended by officials from Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida and was chaired by Delhi Police Commissioner B.K. Gupta at the Delhi Police headquarters.

Besides the air defence measures, helicopters of the Indian Air Force will hover around Rajpath and all along the route of the parade.

Patrolling in crowded market areas has been intensified and checking and frisking in metro, railway stations, bus terminals and other point of entry to the capital tightened.

Security at the IGI airport has also strengthened in coordination with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Meanwhile, Garg announced that no vehicles will be allowed to ply on the Rajpath after 6 p.m. on Jan 25 till the end of the parade Jan 26. No traffic will be allowed on Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg up to Red Fort after 4 a.m. Jan 26.

For the full-dress rehearsal Sunday, no traffic will be allowed from Vijay Chowk to India Gate from 5 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. while traffic restrictions on the rest of the parade route will be imposed from 10 a.m.